Mod Note: This is not a debate thread. The purpose of this thread is to post some of the odd, ridiculous, and/or interesting local political issues in your region (please, avoid the national stuff, unless it's fairly unknown).
Ohio, unlike Washington State with it's fun gubernatorial race between Rossi and Gregoire, doesn't have very many interesting issues to vote on this year. The governor and other major state offices aren't up for election until an "off" election year (one where the president isn't elected). Ohio Ballot Issues: Issue 1 – Petition Deadlines Constitutional Amendment Qualified to the Ballot In June 2008, the Ohio General Assembly approved House Joint Resolution 3 - a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution to change the filing deadlines for future statewide ballot initiatives. If approved, HJR 3, or Issue I, as the initiative will appear on the November 4, 2008 ballot, will require individuals or groups seeking to file constitutional amendments, initiated statutes, or referendums to file such petitions not later than 125 days before an election. Currently, petitions for such issues must be filed not later than 90 days before an election for constitutional amendments and initiated statutes and not later than 60 days before an election. The Ohio Ballot Board, on August 7 prescribed the official language to be voted on at the November 2008 election, the official explanation of the measure for Ohio voters, and the arguments supporting and opposing Issue I. Issue 2 – “Clean Ohio” Bond Program Constitutional Amendment Qualified to the Ballot At the request of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, the Ohio General Assembly has placed HJR 5, better known as the “Clean Ohio” program for environmental conservation and revitalization on the November 4, 2008 general election ballot. Clean Ohio, which will be Issue II on the November 2008 ballot, is a $400 million bonds program that will permit the State of Ohio to use such funds for conservation and environmental revitalization efforts. The preservation and conservation of farmland, park and recreation areas, forest, water, and natural resources are among those areas potentially covered under the Clean Ohio program. Clean Ohio would also permit funds raised to be used for urban revitalization and environmental clean up efforts in urban areas. The Ohio Ballot Board recently approved the official ballot language to be used November 4, 2008, the official explanation of the measure for Ohio voters, as well as the formal arguments for and against the Clean Ohio initiative. Issue II - Clean Ohio - will become effective immediately if approved by Ohio voters. Issue 3 – Water & Private Property Protection Constitutional Amendment Qualified to the Ballot The Ohio General Assembly earlier in 2008 passed Amended Substitute Joint Senate Resolution 8. This resolution places a Constitutional Amendment on the November 4, 2008 to provide private property protections for landowners for the water under or flowing through that landowner’s land. State Issue 3 vests private property owners and Ohio municipalities and political subdivisions with certain property rights to groundwater and nonnavigable waterways situated on and/or under that private property owner's land subject to certain limitations. The Ohio Ballot Board recently approved the formal ballot language, the formal ballot explanation, as well as the official arguments for Issue 3 and against Issue 3. If Issue 3 is approved by Ohio voters, the Constitutional Amendment will become immediately effective. Issue 5 – Payday Lending Reforms Referendum The Ohio General Assembly, with support of Governor Ted Strickland, recently passed Substitute House Bill 545. The law, enacted in June 2008, makes various changes to Ohio’s Check Cashing Lending Laws, commonly known as “payday lending”. The new law caps interest and fees on short-term loans to 28 percent APR, down from the 391 percent APR for an average two-week payday loan under the prior law. The referendum seeks to overturn a single provision in HB 545, which effectively would allow payday lenders to continue issuing loans with the higher rates and fees. A ‘yes’ vote on Issue 5 would cap interest rates on a payday loan at 28% APR. A ‘no’ vote would allow payday lenders to continue charging rates and fees that equal 391 % APR on a typical two-week loan. State Issue 5, the Payday Lending Referendum, is not yet formally certified to the 2008 ballot. Issue 5 is pending signature validation by Ohio county boards of elections to ensure sufficient valid signatures exist for its placement on the ballot and final certification by the Secretary of State's Office. Final certification or rejection for failure to meet Ohio's requirements for statewide ballot issues is expected in early October 2008. Issue 6 – Casino Gambling/Clinton County Ohio Constitutional Amendment Qualified to the Ballot State Issue 6, if approved, would authorized one privately owned gambling casino to be built and operated in Clinton County, Ohio. The operators of the casino propose that the casino would be built on a 94-acre site outside Wilmington, Ohio, requiring an initial investment of at least $600 million. Taxes of up to 30 percent of the casino’s gross revenue, less gambling payouts, will be collected and distributed proportionately, based on population, to each of Ohio’s 88 counties for the county’s unrestricted use. The Ohio Ballot Board, in August 2008, prepared and finalized the formal ballot language for Issue 6, as well as arguments for the proposed casino gambling initiative and against casino gambling. On September 25, 2008, the Ohio Secretary of State formally certified Issue 6 to the ballot. ~String
I thought abortion was legal in Oz? ______________________________________ So, do the Australian states have a mini-Westminster system in Australia, or is it more like a standard republican makeup (independent executive, legislative, and judiciary)? Do they have individual constitutions where the people vote on ballot measures to change (we do in the States, and some of them are good, while others are patently ridiculous)? ~String
More like its decriminalised. It falls under a single judgment which alows it in cases where the mothers health is at risk. Of course this definition is REALLY broud (it could be her mental health, finatial health ect) but there is no legislation in any juristiction except the ACT i belive where it is technically legal (just not enforced) As to your second question no, its a full westminster system with the premiures as the leader of the goverment in the lower house. They are all bicarmoral parliments EXCEPT queensland who only have one house. I keep meaning to look up wether this was the case under beoupeterson, if you want facist goverment look at HIS. The song "pig city" was written about his goverment. That was the last time a there was a national party (famers party basically) member in charge of a goverment above the council level
I think that all the states (in the USA) should be uni-cameral. The point of the bicameral legislature in the USA is to prevent the overpopulous states from having all the power. In the individual, geographically proportioned upper houses (mini-federal system) were found by the supreme court to be unconstitutional and, thus, all the states have bi-cameral proportional representation. It's idiotic and a stupid expense. Nebraska has a single chamber legislature and they function just fine. ~String
for the US thats probably a decent idea, not so much here however. The executive is the party which holds a majority in the lower house, if you abolish the uper house you might as well abolish parliment all together and just have an executive and a judicury. Thats why if there is a state that is every going to become facist its queensland. Furhter more a strong seperation of powers is more important at the state level than the federal level. The federal goverment is limited by the constitution in the areas it can legislate but NOT based on the rights of the people (well except 2, the just compansation clause and the rights of free travel between states clause). Its limited in what powers belong to it and which belong to the states and the states have almost unlimited areas of influance. For instance they COULD make a law which said every third person was to be shot (silly law, but possable). Doesnt breach the federal discrimination acts there for it would be legal. lastly the state consitutions are just an act of parliment and can be changed by parliment. So even if a bill of rights was established in them they could easerly be changed
In the USA, the federal government is tasked with protecting the rights and freedoms as well as "republican structure" of the individual states. ~String
The most bemusing local political incident was the Jhunka Bhakar campaign by the Shiv Sena in Mumbai. For those unaware of local politics in Mumbai, it used to be a relatively dynamic metropolitan city before the Shiv Sena used divisive politics to get into power. Basically, they appealed to the ego of the average Marathi speaking man and insisted that Bombay, as the capital of Maharashtra state should be first and foremost, a Marathi city. To this end, they changed the name to Mumbai, made Marathi compulsory in state legislature and used Shivaji Maharaje [who ironically, was a secularist] as their icon. Not only did they destroy the old cosmopolitan flavor of the city, but after coming into power, they instigated riots by importing violent youths from the outskirts and oppressed people who were not Hindu or Marathi speaking. They also installed all Marathi men in state bureaucracy, so it became a pain to get anything done if you were not a native Marathi speaker. All of the above was achieved with a clever mix of propaganda, violence and money from rich bros. Of course, once they came into power, they abandoned every promise they made to the Marathi people and like all men of such disposition, ensured that they benefited financially from their reign. So, back to Jhunka Bhakar. This is actually a poor man's meal in Maharashtra, nutritionally adequate and cheap and probably a staple in those regions of the state where poverty is endemic. Its basically sauteed chickpea flour which is stir fried with some spices and eaten with a dry pan baked millet bread. Despite the unappetising description it is delicious! Picture: Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! The Shiv Sena promised to make food available cheap to every man in the state by opening up Jhunka Bhakar stalls all over the place. Nothing too fancy, of course: Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! And they attached great significance to the symbolic representation of the Marathi meal. The first ever Marathi fast food stall!!! The stall owners who were given the "job" of maintaining the stalls were forced to serve the meal at Re 1/- per meal [ The dollar was about 44 rupees at the time, so you can do the math] even though the cost of preparation was over 3 times as much. Anyway, there was a GREAT deal of propaganda about these stalls, party candidates would drive by in jeeps and cars with loudspeakers and banners, announcing that they had saved the Marathi people from starvation [I personally never ate at these stalls, because it looked very unhygienic to me] And how were these stalls funded? From the state exchequer ie by taxpayers. Mumbai, at that time, paid 14% of all taxes in the country. We were the national elite Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Of course, this was a free pass for everyone and their appa to open up a stall and soon money was being drained from the exchequer to provide people literally, with a free lunch. So obviously, at some point, it reached the level of ridiculousness and the government decided to close these stalls [by then the Sena had been trounced and kicked out, but how do you tell people that they no longer have jobs or a free meal??]. Anyway, the BMC [Bombay Municipal Corporation] decided to take a stand and shut down all these centers. The Sena corporators who were still around insisted they be allowed to remain. When the stall owners heard about it, they did what Indians do when they have no idea what to do. They ALL decided to fast. The ones in Mumbai collected at Azad Maidan [a cricket ground] for their "indefinite fast" in protest of the closure of their livelihood [on state ground, funded by the state] This of course became the hot topic of discussion in the city, what to do with all the JB stalls, how to make them viable and spare the fasting stall owners. Of course, the stall owners were not without initiative and in the night, the JB stalls were converted to liquor dens, not to mention land grab in some prime Mumbai localities [real estate in Mumbai rivals prices in New York]. And who was giving out the liquor licences? People associated with the Shiv Sena. Coincidentally, many of them were also sugar barons and had distilleries so they may even have supplied the liquor. All very mind boggling. Fortunately the BMC [which is a separate entity from the state government and administers Mumbai] ignored all the BS and closed down these stalls. You can still see a few of them, the one at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus [which was Victoria Terminus till the SS came in], is touted to be pretty good.
Over here we're having Mayorial elections (is mayorial a word? i dont know) Theres front yard signs everywhere, even though no one gives a rat's rear who wins. They're both Republicans, I don't even know the differences between their policies, or if there are any. So I think the outcome will depend on who people like more, which will not, I think, be the incumbent, John Pomierski. Ray Musser is always doing things... like, he goes to the city's annual pet adoption fair, and he goes to Serve Day (a day on which a bunch of churches across Southern California go do service projects), and he goes to Boy Scout Courts of Honor, and other such things. So people know him more, people like him more, he's just... more active. So I'm hoping he wins.
The only issues I've heard of were about building a train that travels from LA to San Fransisco in 2.5 hours. The gay marriage ban, and that's about it.
Will the gay marriage ban pass, you think? They generally do in landslides. Here in Ohio, it passed with like 65% of the vote. That goes to show that the best thing for gay people to do is stop trying to force it down society's throat so quickly. The backlash can be worst than the status quo and the slow crawl of progress. In the end, it's the turtle who wins against the hare. ~String
string i know you are gay but do you think women should have fought for there right to vote or sat back and waited for it to be handed to them? what about slave rights? If you dont fight for something you will never get it.
Fighting for something in the streets (suffrage and civil rights) and fighting to have the courts create some right out of constitutional ambiguity are two totally different things. In the end, it was the women's suffrage movement who won the battle by convincing the Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution, and then marched in the streets to convince the states to ratify it. It was the civil rights movement who convinced the Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These changes came about through strong democratic means, not through judicial manipulation. If it's so important, it should be decided by the people and their elected officials. ~String
Well when the courts first made it legal and some people put together a petition back in May or June the polls said that 35% of Californians supported the ban, while 61% opposed it and 4% didn't know or had no opinion. So things are looking bad for prop 8, but again you can never tell with polls. I'm going to vote no on it in Nov.
Here in Washington, the race between Gregoire and Rossi is getting dirty. In one Gregoire ad, she ran an ad playing the Supranos theme music, because of Rossi's Italian name. She also ran an ad showing a little baby with Downs Syndrome falling over and walking into walls and the mother crying because Dino Rossi doesn't support stem cell reaserch that might cure her baby. It's getting pretty nasty. Also, good for you, Cutsie. I agree with Asguard.
O joy! My ballot had been sitting on the sofa for a few days while I nervously checked the mail, wondering when it would arrive. And then, today, as I sat down to talk to my daughter about when we would go grocery shopping and the like, I realized that the thing I was moving out of my way was my ballot. O, joy! Two things I will note: • I did in fact, vote for a Republican. Only one, but still, it's something. • Speaking of Republicans, the two most prominent Republicans on the ballot (after the presidential ticket, of course) were afraid to call themselves Republicans. Gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi and First Congressional District candidate Larry Ishmael both are listed as "GOP Party", or, to enjoy the moment a little longer, the Grand Old Party Party. And you know, they actually won the right to do that in court after Democrats challenged. For the record, Republican Secretary of State Sam Reed, who advocated his fellow Republicans' right to call themselves something else, listed himself on the ballot as a Republican. That last, in and of itself, makes this an interesting year. Oh, and the Republican I voted for didn't bother with any of that "GOP Party" thing. The candidate identified as a Republican. Oh, and I still don't like this mail-in voting thing, but I suppose there's some comfort to be taken that I could smoke a cigarette, or a bowl, or maybe get drunk while I fill out my ballot if I really wanted to.
Tiassa curious is the reason your mailing it in because your voting absentiee or did they change the rules again so that everyone mails in there vote?
It's the process 'round here It's a county-level thing, and soon to be statewide. There's only a few counties left—I heard the number two the other day, but won't vouch for it—that use voting sites. Oregon went to statewide mail-in ballots in the '90s, and to my knowledge is still using the system.
